Absorbent footwear liner

ABSTRACT

An absorbent footwear liner comprising an upper absorbent layer and a lower layer comprising an adhesive equal in size to the upper layer for adhering the liner to substantially the entire surface of a footbed for absorbing and dissipating moisture thereon and preventing foot slippage on a shoe footbed due to perspiration.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is continuation-in-part application of application Ser.No. 11/380,954 filed May 1, 2006, currently pending, the entire contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference; which claims priority ofprovisional Application Ser. No. 60/686,666 filed Jun. 2, 2005, theentire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to footwear liners, and moreparticularly to an absorbent footwear liner that substantially covers afootwear sole for absorbing and dissipating perspiration from a footengaged therewith.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There are over 250,000 sweat glands in a human foot. Unfortunately,shoes are not created with this in mind. Perspiration not only causesodor but also causes the surface of the foot to become moist. In factthe human foot has the capacity to produce at least % a cup ofperspiration per day.

Typical footbeds of non-athletic shoes such as pumps, loafers, andsandals comprise a liner comprising a leather, plastic, or syntheticmaterial which cannot absorb nor release foot produced perspiration. Asa result, feet accumulating perspiration thereon slip on the footbedscausing the foot to shift inside the shoe and even slip completely outof the shoe in some cases. Further, persons with hyperhidrosis, commonlyreferred to as excessive sweating, have even more difficulties withtypical footbeds such that simply keeping an open shoe on their feet isnearly impossible.

Heretofore shoe liners have been available for orthotic purposes, foroverall cushioning, and as inserts for either the heel or ball of a footto improve overall fit of the shoe. Existing shoe liners have not beendesigned to absorb moisture and prevent slippage due to perspiration.Further, existing shoe liners typically have adhesive tabs which do notsecure the entire liner.

The present invention comprises an absorbent shoe liner which overcomesforegoing and other difficulties which have long since characterized theprior art. In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, anabsorbent shoe liner comprises an upper footbed layer which absorbs anddissipates perspiration and a lower layer comprising an adhesive areaequal in size to the upper footbed layer for adhering the liner tosubstantially the entire surface of the footbed of a shoe.

In accordance with more specific aspects of the invention, an absorbentshoe liner comprises an upper layer comprising a fabric with moisturewicking capabilities and a lower layer comprising an adhesive material.Both the upper and lower layers extend across the entire footbed of ashoe covering the footbed from edge to edge and end to end. The fabriccomprising the upper layer absorbs excess moisture from the foot therebypreventing the foot from slipping out of the shoe and further absorbingbacteria which prevents accumulation of odor inside the shoe. Theadhesive lower layer keeps the shoe liner secure on the footbed of theshoe.

The fabric comprising the upper layer of absorbent shoe liner maycomprise 100% hemp fibers. Alternatively, the upper layer of theabsorbent shoe liner may comprise a blend of hemp fibers and woolfibers.

Regardless of the materials) utilized in the construction of the upperlayer of the absorbent shoe liner, micro-encapsulated essential oils maybe incorporated therein. When absorbent shoe liners havingmicro-encapsulated essential oils incorporated therein are installed inshoes and the shoes are worn, contact between the feet of the wearer andthe upper layer of the absorbent shoe liner releases the essential oilsthereby keeping the feet fragranced and feeling refreshed.

The upper layer may also include additional foam material substantiallynear where the ball or heel of the foot rests thereon for providingcushion for the foot. The foam material may be adhered either above orbelow the upper layer.

The shoe liner of the present invention is equally applicable to bothopen and close toed shoes for men, women, and children. The shoe linercan be fitted to nearly all shoe sizes by simply trimming the perimeterthereof. In addition to absorbing moisture and odor and preventing footslippage, the shoe liner also provides a soft surface on which the footrests contributing to the wearer's overall comfort. Further, the shoeliner may be also adhered to an orthotic that is placed inside a shoe,instead of directly onto the footbed of a shoe.

The shoe liner of the present invention may further include anadditional layer comprising a gel material. The additional gel layer isplaced beneath the lower adhesive layer. The gel layer adheres the shoeliner to a footbed of a shoe while providing additional cushioning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had byreference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connectionwith the accompanying Drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view of a shoe liner comprising afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the adhesive layer of the embodimentshown in FIG. 1A having a different adhesive pattern;

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the adhesive layer of the embodimentshown in FIG. 1A having yet another adhesive pattern;

FIG. 1D is a perspective view of the adhesive layer of the embodimentshown in FIG. 1A having yet another adhesive pattern;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a shoe liner comprising asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a shoe liner comprising athird embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a an exploded perspective view of a shoe liner comprising theembodiment of FIG. 1 applied to an insertable shoe orthotic.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the Drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1A, there isshown a footwear liner 10 comprising a first embodiment of the presentinvention. The footwear liner 10 comprises an upper layer 12 and a lowerlayer 14 adhered therebelow. The lower layer 14 comprises an adhesivematerial whereby the shoe liner covers and is adhered to an uppersurface 16 of a footbed 18.

The upper layer 12 comprises a fabric material capable of absorbing anddissipating moisture such as an athletic-wool felt comprising 70% wooland 30% rayon or other suitable materials known to those skilled in theart, including suede or synthetic suede; open and closed-cell foammaterials; woven, nonwoven, or knit textiles; and manmade or naturaltextile blends, including microfibers. The upper layer 12 may alsocomprise hemp or a blend comprising hemp and wool. Regardless of thematerials utilized in its construction the upper layer 12 may beprovided with encapsulated essential oils.

The lower layer 14 comprises a double-sided adhesive film such asdouble-faced acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive tape with release linersold by AdChem Corporation under the Product Name Adchem 8311M-76G-54 orother suitable adhesive materials known to those skilled in the art,including those applied by pressure-sensitive tape equipment, spray,slot die, sheet, roller coating, continuous pour, and embossed patterns,to maintain the upper layer 12 in adhesive engagement with a leather,plastic or synthetic material while leaving no residue once removed fromthe upper surface 16 of the footbed 18. Both the upper layer 12 andlower layer 14 are formed such that the shoe liner 10 substantiallycovers the entire upper surface 16 of the footbed 18 and the entire shoeliner 10 is maintained in adhesive engagement therewith.

FIG. 1B illustrates an alternative lower layer 14 having an adhesivecomprising a series of stripes extending longitudinally alongsubstantially the entire layer 14. This series of stripes could alsoextend transversely across substantially the entire layer 14. FIG. 1Cillustrates an alternative lower layer 14 having an adhesive comprisinga series of circular applications positioned substantially across theentire length and width of layer 14. FIG. 1D illustrates yet anotheralternative lower layer 14 having an adhesive comprising a stripextending about the entire perimeter of the upper layer 12.

FIG. 2 illustrates the shoe liner 10 having an additional lower layer 20comprising a gel material. The gel layer 20 comprises a gel materialwhich adheres the shoe liner 10 to the footbed 18 while providingadditional cushioning and comfort to a foot resting thereon. The gellayer 20 may be fabricated from a biodegradable synthetic material orother suitable materials known to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 3 illustrates the show liner 10 wherein the upper layer 12comprises additional foam support 22 adhered to the upper layer 12substantially near the location where the ball and the heal of the footrest thereon.

FIG. 4 illustrates the shoe liner 10 adhered to the surface 24 of anorthotic 26 for insertion into a shoe. In FIG. 4 the shoe liner 10 isillustrated in accord with the embodiment of FIG. 1, but the embodimentsof FIGS. 2 and 3 can also be applied to the orthotic 26.

The shoe liner is illustrated in conjunction with a right footconfiguration but is equally applicable to a left foot configuration.Further, the shoe liner of the present invention is equally applicableto both open and close toed shoes for men, women, and children. The shoeliner is fitted to nearly all shoe sizes by simply trimming theperimeter thereof.

When the upper layers 12 of shoe liners comprising the present inventionare provided with encapsulated essential oils and absorbent shoe liners10 comprising such upper layers are installed in shoes, contact betweenthe feet of a person wearing the shoes with the upper layers 12 of theabsorbent shoe liners installed in the shoes releases essential oilswhich keep the feet fragranced and feeling refreshed.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated inthe accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it will be understood that the invention is not limited tothe embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements,modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

1. A liner for placement upon an upper surface of a footbed of anarticle of footwear to absorb and dissipate moisture, comprising: alayer of moisture absorbing material having a top and a bottom surface;the layer of moisture absorbing material extending across substantiallythe entire upper surface of the footbed when placed thereon; The layerof moisture absorbing material having encapsulated essential oilsincorporated therein; an adhesive removably adhering the bottom surfaceof the layer of moisture absorbing material to the upper surface of thefootbed; and the adhesive covering substantially the entire bottomsurface of the layer of moisture absorbing material.
 2. The lineraccording to claim 1 wherein the adhesive comprises a series of stripesextending longitudinally along substantially the entire bottom surfaceof the layer of moisture absorbing material.
 3. The liner according toclaim 1 wherein the adhesive comprises a series of circular applicationspositioned substantially across the entire length and width of thebottom surface of the layer of moisture absorbing material.
 4. The lineraccording to claim 1 wherein the adhesive comprises a strip extendingabout the perimeter of the entire bottom surface of the layer ofmoisture absorbing material.
 5. The liner according to claim 1 whereinthe layer of moisture absorbing material comprises felt.
 6. The lineraccording to claim 1 wherein the layer of moisture absorbing materialcomprises an open-cell foam material.
 7. The liner according to claim 1wherein the layer of moisture absorbing material comprises suede.
 8. Theliner according to claim 1 wherein the layer of moisture absorbingmaterial further comprises additional material to cushion the ball andheal of a foot resting thereon.
 9. The liner according to claim 1wherein the encapsulated essential oils are released by contact betweena foot of a person wearing the article of footwear and the layer ofmoisture absorbing material having the encapsulated essential oilsincorporated therein.
 10. A liner for placement upon an upper surface ofa footbed of an article of footwear to absorb and dissipate moisture,comprising: an upper layer of moisture absorbing material; a lower layerproviding cushioning and support; the upper layer and lower layer shapedso that they extend across substantially the entire upper surface of thefootbed when placed thereon; and an adhesive for removably adhering thebottom surface of the upper layer to the lower layer; the upper layerhaving encapsulated essential oils incorporated therein.
 11. The lineraccording to claim 10 wherein the lower layer comprises a gel material.12. The liner according to claim 10 wherein the lower layer comprises amoisture absorbing material.
 13. The liner according to claim 10 whereinthe layer of moisture absorbing material comprises felt.
 14. The lineraccording to claim 10 wherein the layer of moisture absorbing materialcomprises an open-cell foam material.
 15. The liner according to claim10 wherein the layer of moisture absorbing material comprises suede. 16.The liner according to claim 10 wherein the lawyer of moisture absorbingmaterial further comprises additional material to cushion the ball andheal of a foot resting thereon.
 17. The liner according to claim 10wherein the encapsulated essential oils are released by contact betweena foot of a person wearing the article of footwear and the layer ofmoisture absorbing material having the encapsulated essential oilsincorporated therein.
 18. The liner according to claim 10 wherein themoisture absorbing material comprises a material selected from the groupconsisting of hemp and hemp/wool blends.
 19. A liner for placement uponan upper surface of a footwear orthotic to absorb and dissipatemoisture, comprising: a layer of moisture absorbing material having atop and a bottom surface; the layer of moisture absorbing materialextending across substantially the entire upper surface of the footbedwhen placed thereon; the layer of moisture absorbing material havingmicro-encapsulated essential oils incorporated therein; an adhesiveremovably adhering the bottom surface of the layer of moisture absorbingmaterial to the upper surface of the footwear orthotic; and the adhesivecovering substantially the entire bottom surface of the layer ofmoisture absorbing material.
 20. The liner according to claim 19 whereinthe moisture absorbing material comprises a material selected from thegroup consisting of hemp and hemp/wool blends.